Altria to Recall Dozens of Skoal, Copenhagen Smokeless Tobacco Products -- Update
January 31 2017 - 6:04PM
Dow Jones News
By Jennifer Maloney
Altria Group Inc. is recalling dozens of smokeless tobacco
products including some sold under its popular Copenhagen and Skoal
brands after receiving eight reports from consumers who found metal
objects inside cans.
The recall applies to all products manufactured at the company's
Franklin Park, Ill., facility. The company said it is still
assessing how many cans are affected by the voluntary recall. It
hasn't set a limit on the manufacture date of the products being
recalled.
Altria, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, is also one of the
biggest makers of chewing tobacco. It shipped 813.5 million
smokeless tobacco units in 2015. The Franklin Park facility is one
of five the company has for smokeless products.
The first consumer complaint came on Jan. 18, an Altria
spokesman said, and the company has been working with the Food and
Drug Administration to investigate.
A spokesman for the FDA had no immediate comment.
Complaints have come from consumers in Indiana, Texas, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Ohio. In every case, the metal
objects -- some of them sharp -- were visible in the can and were
spotted before they caused injury.
"Though we have only a limited number of cans that are reported
to us as affected and no reported injuries, we are taking this
action in the interest of our consumers," said Brian Quigley, chief
executive of Altria's U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. "We appreciate our
consumers' patience and loyalty while we work through this
matter."
The recalled products include several varieties of Copenhagen,
including Extra Long Cut Natural and Long Cut Mint, and about two
dozen Skoal flavors, including Bandit Mint and Long Cut Cherry. A
smaller number of Husky and Cope products were also included.
Altria said certain products weren't affected including
Copenhagen Fine Cut and Copenhagen Long Cut, both in a fiberboard
can.
Altria's smokeless tobacco business accounted for $1.9 billion
in revenue in 2015 and $1.1 billion of the company's operating
income.
Altria is slated to report its latest financial results
Wednesday morning.
Write to Jennifer Maloney at jennifer.maloney@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 31, 2017 18:49 ET (23:49 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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